.44 Magnum Load for Bear that's Safe to Shoot in 629

[Granite Stater]

Hey errolhill I went bear hunting in Errol NH about twelve years ago. Beautiful country up there. I used a Speer 270 in my 44 mag but didn't connect. There was plenty of acorns that year so not too many bears out and about.

 

[badge]

I'm very late to this party but for anyone interested I just spoke with a very pleasant Tech Rep from Corbon in regards to heavier loadings offered in .44 Magnum. I have some older rounds from my days in the North West part of the Cowboy state, the .44 305 grain LFN which has since been discontinued. was advised that these loadings are SAMMI spec and perfectly safe in Steel frame Model 29's and all of their variants. Since I am returning in the near future and wished to utilize them once more in a .44 Mtn Gun I called as it's been awhile.
On a side note I let my Pooch out Thursday night about 2230 and she suddenly shot over to the other side of the fenced area and began barking. Thinking a Skunk was afoot I got my Flashlight and went to retrieve her and when I illuminated the area she was looking into I saw a rather large Black Bear standing there. I'm going to say 350 -400 pounds and he was beautiful. Shiny black fur and very full to boot. I yelled at him to vamoose and she continued to bark and he just didn't seemed very inclined to vamoose. I reckon if your that large you don't have to. Bears are not uncommon here and I've only had to use exceptional means to motivate one to depart in the past but this guy was either very curious or just didn't care if we barked and yelled. Just goes to show that they can and do appear whenever the darned well feel like it.

 

[crazyphil]

My S&W 29-3 .44 Magnum with 300-Gr. cast flat points by Federal will
handle any black bear. If I were to go where the big brown ones are
(Grizzly) I would prefer a 12-Gauge wlth big slugs. If he is coming right
at you aim right under the chin. If you have an angle, shoot for right
under an ear. Either of the these neck shots would be quick killers.
Head shots are difficult because he is swinging his head side to side.
A good shoulder shot will knock the bear down or roll him, but you
will need a follow up shot.

 

[off road]

Black bears are pretty soft, compared to other big game. I have come around to the notion that the ~300 grain, hardcast .44 loads are over matched for black bear. Way to much zip-through potential! Save these for grizzly, bison, moose, and elk size animals....

Ashley Emerson (Garrett Cartridges) tells me he will be shortly coming out with a 250 grain load, in his hardcast alloy and with the same bullet nose shape with optimized meplat, as the 310 grain Defender/Hammerhead. With a lower sectional density, it should not have so much zip-through, yet still penetrate more than deep enough even on a black bear frontal defensive shot. (Maybe also a .44 Special load as well, using the same bullet?) Should end up being my go-to load for black bear in the southwest, where there aren't any grizzlies.

 

[Voland]

California Lead-free Regs

We're headed to pan for gold. Sierras. I don't hunt, but I'm scared s!@tless of certain wild animals...bear, cougar, pigs, rattlers, which except for pigs are plentiful in Sierra.

There exists a regulation in CA banning lead ammo while hunting. It breaks down like this, ok...According to the 2 enforcement officers I spoke with, as they clarified from the CA website, is that the reg affects only the Condor Range, and lands run by CA Fish & Wildlife. The exception is if the ammo is for self defense. In our case it is.

It's down to 2 rounds...Buffalo Bore 305 at a higher velocity, Federal 300 at a lower velocity. Both hard cast, gas checked, flat nose. I'll suppose the lower velocity will kick less and allow me to get back on target faster. I'll buy each and find out.